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PNDSA is a non-profit association formed in 2000 to provide information exchange, advocacy on conversation policy issues, research coordination, access to value-added benefits that supports the adoption of environmentally sustainable and economically viable direct seed cropping systems. PNDSA unites growers under a cropping system, rather than one specific crop. We are passionate about bringing together diverse groups with common interests to advance the future of sustainable farming.

Direct seed farming systems place seed and fertilizer in one – two passes directly into the crop residue and root structure from last year’s crop. Specialized equipment opens a narrow seed row in largely undisturbed soil and the plants grow up through that seed row. The crop residue and root structure keeps the water and the soil in the field, reducing soil erosion by 90% (through wind and water), mitigates offsite movement of agriculture chemicals tied to soil particles, improving water and air quality. Other benefits include sequestration of carbon in the soil, improved soil health, reduction of fossil fuel usage and emissions, reduction of field burning, and improving wildlife habitat.

Click here to learn more about the PNDSA mission, board, and major initiatives.

Good for environment

reduces soil erosion

Crop residues anchored on the soil surface reduce erosion by water and wind by up to 90% compared to unprotected, intensively tilled soils. During the last 40 years, nearly 1/3 of the world’s arable land has been lost to erosion and continues to be lost at a rate of more than 22 million acres per year. Continuous direct seed cropping systems are recognized as a sustainable farming system by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Improves Water Quality

The increased water infiltration capacity of continuous direct seed cropping systems significantly reduce surface water runoff and the potential for the translocation of nutrients and surface applied crop protection products. Low volumes and slow moving surface water that may leave direct seed fields is cleaner and carries less sediment, nutrients and toxins than other cropping systems. Also, once water has infiltrated the soil, microbes that live in carbon-rich soils help degrade pesticides and utilize nutrients to protect groundwater quality.

Reduced runoff and leaching decreases off-site nutrient loads and reduces sedimentation on country roads and ditches, streams and rivers.

Increase Soil organic Matter and improve soil tilth

Continuous direct seed cropping systems increase soil organic matter (OM). Research has shown the more often soil is tilled, the more carbon is released to the atmosphere and less carbon is available to build organic matter for future crops. Increased OM levels result in better nutrient exchange capability and improved soil tilth for increased water holding capacity.

Efficient use of available moisture

Continuous direct seed cropping systems build a protective mulch on the soil surface which reduces the impact of raindrops, buffers the soil from temperature extremes and reduces soil moisture evaporation. More moisture gets into the soil and more moisture stays in the soil where crops can utilize it for increased productivity.

Channels created by earthworms and undisturbed decaying plant roots also improve water infiltration.

Reducing tillage also saves moisture. Each tillage pass uses, on average, 1/4 to 1/2 inch of soil moisture which is an equivalent of 7,000 to 14,000 gallons of water per acre - 7,000,000 to 14,000,000 gallons on a 1000 acre farm. (Rourke, Manitoba)

On our farm south of Ione, Oregon, we have always been concerned about water and wind erosion. We started our change to direct seed in 2010 with 400 acre of direct seed the first year. By 2011 we had completely converted to the direct seed system using chemical fallow. In 2011, we also started field mapping. In 2014, we applied and received a 3 year Conservation Innovation Grant. The grant is to; study the available fertilizer in the soil, to develop a Side Banding technique, and to advance our field mapping system. The side banding uses the latest technology available to apply fertilizer in the spring of the year into the existing winter wheat crop. Currently we map all our seed, fertilizer, and yields. We are using the latest technology which include, GPSed zonal soil sampling using handheld GPS, VRA fertilizer and seed application, Farm Works software and wireless Connected Farm. Our Drill is a Flexi Coil air drill with a paired row opener. Our banding system is a Yetter 6200 N Keeper that is mounted on a homemade frame.

I came back to the farm in 2008 and observed some of the first no till farming going on in our region, The Horse Heaven Hills. It became obvious that this was a great solution for our light wind eroded soils. We traditionally are not able to early seed and most years dust seed mid October. Direct seeding provided us with a much nicer seed bed for our late seeding environment. We first started with 400 acres of direct seeded ground in 2010 after many years of conservation tillage and jumped in fully with the remainder of the farm in 2012. This has truly transformed our farm and we are recognizing numerous benefits. Wind and water erosion has been greatly reduced, labor reduction, and our soil health is improving for the first time....ever. It's great to know that the days of dirt storms caused by deep tillage are over and that we can pass this ground to the next generation more productive than when we took it over.

I'm excited to be involved with the PNDSA, I feel that this organization puts on one of the best conferences in the northwest full of fresh new ideas and innovative growers. I'm also excited to help promote the farmed smart program, to continue to add value and to show other growers what the PNDSA has to offer!

"We are just starting to experiment with direct seeding on a portion of our farm. Our direct seeded acres are better protected from wind and water erosion and require less time and fuel than our traditional fallow acres. I feel that as we move into the future there will be new developments in the crops that we grow and the equipment that we use to make direct seeding an even bigger advantage. I am very new to direct seeding and feel that the PNDSA can provide countless benefits to both new and experienced direct seeders."

Why did you transition to direct seeding? There was no one “ah ha” but a series of events that led me to direct seeding. I returned to the family farm in the spring of 2011. My first huge stress was how would I ever buy all the equipment my family had accumulated over 40 years. At the same time, my uncle had already spent several years researching direct seeding and believed with the proper systems approach, direct seeding would be successful here in Douglas County. In fact, he purchased his John Deere ConservaPak and was already showing success. I spent many hours with him listening to him, questioning him and digging in his fields. It became apparent that direct seeding was so much more than saving input costs, but was an opportunity to repair our overworked soils and begin to believe that our soils have the potential to produce more than ever could be expected. The final piece to the puzzle was the fact I qualified for an EQUIP energy grant which gave me the resources to purchase my drill.

Why do you feel direct seeding is important to the future of agriculture? Sustainability!!! I now believe I will have something to leave to the next generation that will be in better shape than when I took it over

“We transitioned to direct seeding on a fluke, a barley field froze early before we could disk. We started disking after a rainfall and seeding behind and kept plugging the drill. So we tried drilling directly into the frozen barley residue and had a great winter wheat crop the next year. We haven’t tilled since. With direct seeding we are saving the soil, creating a cleaner environment, use less fertilizer and less fuel. I’d like to tell farmers that don’t think direct seeding will work for them to come and see for yourself.”

“My great-grandfather came to Moscow in 1877. Me and my son Dave are the 4th and 5th generations on our family farm. We began direct seeding to reduce soil erosion and build the soil. It takes a lot of patience and figuring out what works for you. Our biggest challenges are straw and weed management and our biggest benefits are less erosion, fewer trips, and less fuel use. I think direct seeding is important for the future of agriculture to save and improve the soil for future generations to continue to farm and improve water quality.”

We initially started direct seeding as an efficient method of seeding spring crops to combat winter annual grassy weeds without aggravating soil erosion or depending solely on expensive herbicides. The advantages in productivity, efficiency, and conservation were immediately obvious. We have been using annual spring crops successfully to address weed problems and improve subsequent winter wheat crops. We are looking forward to adding more diversity in our rotation and are currently testing cover crops in place of chem fallow. Maintaining adequate residue levels to protect the soil moisture seems like one of our key challenges.

“We initially transitioned to direct seeding to plant our spring crops more economically, the biggest benefits to direct seeding are that we are improving soil quality, wind and water erosion are non-existent now, and our farm now can support our son too. Direct seeding is saving our resources – soil, water, and fuel.”

"We are just starting to experiment with direct seeding on a portion of our farm. Our direct seeded acres are better protected from wind and water erosion and require less time and fuel than our traditional fallow acres. I feel that as we move into the future there will be new developments in the crops that we grow and the equipment that we use to make direct seeding an even bigger advantage. I am very new to direct seeding and feel that the PNDSA can provide countless benefits to both new and experienced direct seeders."

Dr. Jill ClappertonRhizoterra, Spokane WA Contact: 406-360-7421 | jill(at)rhizoterra.comJill Clapperton is the Principal Scientist, Co-founder and owner of Rhizoterra Inc. and a well-known international lecturer and advocate for practices that promote soil health. Rhizoterra Inc. is an international company that creates information and knowledge pertaining to soil health, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions based on science. They work to demonstrate and promote the link between healthy soils and the production of nutrient dense food. Their strategies include whole system planning for crop, livestock, and/or integrated crop and livestock systems. We know that one-size fits no one so we coach our clients to implement strategies that best suit them, their families, community and markets, to restore and enhance agro-ecosystem function and services.

Associate Professor of Crop and Soil Science at Oregon State University College of Agriculture. Research projects are concerned with improving management of soils under dryland farming systems in relation to soil and water conservation, crop rotation, and nutrient management. http://cropandsoil.oregonstate.edu/people/Wysocki-Donald

Soil Scientist with USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Land Management and Water Conservation Unit. Dr. Huggins received his Ph.D. in soil fertility and plant nutrition with his doctoral dissertation on redesigning no-till cropping systems for increased productivity and nitrogen use efficiency. Dave is involved with many direct-seed and no-till research and grant efforts. www.ars.usda.gov

Executive Director Since 2018, Bachelor's Degree Agri-Business, Washington State University

The following represent the official PNDSA policy positions on issues pertinent to our mission. We welcome any input or questions you may have.

CRP Takeout

March 2008

Over the next three years, thousands of acres of Conservation Reserve program (CPR) land in the Pacific Northwest will reach the end of current contracts. Given current commodity prices and the drive to develop a viable biofuel industry in the PNW, it is likely much of this land will be brought into annual crop production. Over the life of a CRP contact many environmental benefits are delivered, including protection of highly erodible land and carbon sequestration. It is the opinion of the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association that the return of this land to annual crop production does not have to have severe and negative environmental consequences.

To help reduce the potential negative environmental impact of this impending action, CRP contract administrators can allow and encourage landowners to adopt and utilize direct seed crop systems.

Farm Program policy provisions

Adopted October 13, 2005

Maintaining planting flexibility - Direct seed systems enhance the sustainability of agriculture through improved economic and environmental benefits. Diversified rotations are a critical element to maintaining both the economic and environmental integrity of direct seed systems. The PNDSA endorses farm policies that continue to encourage, not penalize farmers for making planting decisions that include rotational diversity and respond to market signals.

Conservation Incentive Payments - Growers should be rewarded by the public for adopting practices such as direct seeding that reduce negative environmental impacts on our streams and rivers. Incentive based programs that recognize the environmental benefits conservation farming practices promote can help encourage farmers to transition into direct seeding. Increased adoption of better conservation practices will enhance air and water quality as well as wildlife habitat. The public's desire for environmental stewardship in production agriculture should be balanced with the responsibility to mitigate increased costs and risk to implement these practices. The PNDSA facilitates the process of accessing public and private funding sources to address these transition costs.

Conservation payment eligibility should be accessible on a non-discriminatory basis to producers regardless of past efforts to incorporate conservation practices in their operation.

Family Farm Business Viability/Safety Net Programs - PNDSA believes some minimal safety net programs are necessary to insure economic integrity of family farm businesses. PNDSA believe farmers have an obligation to institute all possible measures at their disposal to operate competitively. In addition to demonstrating production skills, farmers should be encouraged and rewarded for efforts to enhance their marketing, financial and business management proficiencies. Future farm policies should consider incentive systems that fund expanded educational opportunities for farmers to build better proficiencies in these areas.

Agriculture burning

Adopted July 8, 2003; Amended October 13, 2005

The PNDSA encourages farmers to maintain crop residue in their cropping systems. Residue reduces soil erosion, retains valuable nutrient, increases organic matter, and results in healthier soils. Burning is a management tool that should be available for specific situations, such as helping to control disease and pest problems and facilitating transition into direct seed systems where heavy crop residue can make it difficult to establish a crop.

The PNDSA will take an active role in educating growers and the public about the use of burning as a management tool and alternative strategies to adopt direct seeding in heavy residue situations without destroying surface residue. The PNDSA supports increased research on viable options to field burning that do not involve increasing tillage. Research successes can substantially reduce the amount of acres burned in the PNW. The PNDSA will work with all stakeholders to promote responsible use of burning with regard to smoke management and consumer air quality concerns.

salmon recovery in the pacific northwest

Adopted July 8, 2003; Amended October 13, 2005

The PNDSA recognizes the importance of several salmon species in the tri-state region, and believes agriculture plays a key role in the process of recovery. The importance of water quality in promoting better spawning conditions is critical to that recovery. Conservation farming practices that include direct seeding can help bring endangered salmon species back to our rivers. Direct seeding contributes directly to salmon recovery through reduction of soil erosion and pesticide runoff and improvement of spawning habitat. PNDSA supports formation of partnerships with entities interested in environmental improvement that will directly enhance salmon recovery through improved production practices.

Crop Insurance

Adopted October 13, 2005

Having a comprehensive set of risk management tools is essential to PNW farmers’ viability. The design of specific program provisions in crop insurance programs should encourage implementation of diverse crop rotation systems. Some RMA policies and claims procedures penalize growers with diverse rotations, and insurance programs often fail to deliver the expected coverage purchased when the actual claims process takes place. The PNDSA recommends that the Pacific Northwest Steering Group (representatives from the major PNW commodity groups along with representatives from RMA and the insurance industry) reconvene to review a number of risk management problem areas. PNDSA encourages RMA working in concert with the Steering Group to consider the following priorities in Federal Crop Insurance programming:

Expand application of master yields for alternative crops

Implement a Crop Revenue Program for peas, lentils and chickpeas

Expand winter coverage for Winter peas and lentils

Continue efforts to make the unit agreement provisions more flexible for establishing optional units in mosaic geographic regions of the PNW